The Karibu Residence is an initiative of the Senegalese civil society movement Y en a Marre. The name Karibu, which means “welcome” in Swahili, the most widely spoken language in Africa, captures the philosophy of this program, which is steeped in the tradition of Senegalese hospitality. It is intended to be a place of refuge and respite for activists in distress.  But much more than a place of shelter, it is a holistic, integrated program designed to make exile not a graveyard of the convictions and ambitions of exilées, but a springboard to recharge their batteries, reinvent themselves, and continue to pursue their ideals—even far from home.[…]

Femicide in Kenya is not just a crisis, it is a declaration of societal failure. Behind every woman murdered is a trail of state inaction, broken systems, and silenced voices. While the government’s response has long been characterized by neglect and indifference, communities and movements like Kongamano La Mapinduzi (KLM) are stepping in where institutions have failed. Today, the most urgent strategy in confronting this epidemic is community-led rapid response, a grassroots-based approach of protection, documentation, and resistance. […]

With a median age of just 16.9 years, Uganda’s population is only second to Niger as the youngest in the world. Despite this enormous demographic advantage, Uganda’s youths have mostly been absent from driving the destiny of their country. According to the country’s leading independent newspaper, as of 2020, the average age in the national cabinet was 65 years! On top of that, the president – who is seeking re-election – is now 80 years old, and has been in power since 1986. However, holding political office is not the only place young Ugandans are inconspicuous. […]

Afrikki is much more than a space for solidarity, action, and training. The network brings activists out of their solitude. They often fight for dreams and take considerable risks. In their communities, they are considered utopian, chronically dissatisfied, or perpetually angry. Within the Afrikki network, they find people who are like them, understand them, support them, and with whom they can discuss freely and respectfully. To speak for myself: I find a lot of my identities grouped together when I am with Afrikki. I no longer make much distinction between being a mother and being an activist, because within the network I’m also a mother; I can no longer not be one. I’m also an activist, because I can no longer not be one. […]

In ongoing tension, Balochistan province in Pakistan witnessed the deadliest attacks in the first quarter of 2025. The hijacking of the Jaffar Express train by the Balochistan Liberation Army caught everyone by surprise. The train was carrying approximately 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar. Also perhaps a surprise, a nonviolent struggle for Baloch rights has emerged from this situation, becoming a source of hope for the Baloch people. […]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine. The rise of Russian-style hybrid warfare. General receptivity to the idea of nonviolent civilian-based defense (CBD) in Latvia, one of the two Baltic states that share a border with Russia, has never been lower. It was the US Special Operations Forces (US-SOF) and NATO that succeeded in drawing the Latvian state’s attention back to CBD, presented as an integral part of national defense. The question of how to implement this concept, known as “comprehensive defense”, remains rather delicate in Latvia to this day—with the exception of a very convincing defense education project. […]